Khat Use in Somalia

On 17 November 2006, the Supreme Islamic Courts Council (which took control of much of Somalia that year), banned the distribution and use of khat during Ramadan. That same month, Kenya banned all flights to Somalia because of security concerns.

People in both countries were upset. Street protestors in Somalia expressed outrage that khat was now illegal while Kenyan growers estimated their loss of business (about twenty tons of khat - worth $800,000 [US] - was flown to Somalia daily before the ban) would devastate the local economy in Meru North District.

Khat has since returned to the streets of Mogadishu, although Kenyan traders have reported demand has not yet returned to pre-ban levels.